By Talent Gondo- Foreign truck drivers in South Africa, among them, Zimbabweans, have described working in South Africa as a “living hell” following numerous incidents of attacks this past week and weekend. At least 15 trucks were burnt this weekend alone along the N3.

Reported a local publication::

Zimbabwean driver Steven Bagadzi, a father of four from Harare, said he prayed everyday before reporting for work. He said his brother Ronald, also a truck driver, was recovering from a leg injury after his truck was torched last week in Midrand, in Gauteng.

Ronald, who works in Pinetown, had been delivering goods when he was assaulted with a baseball bat.

“We are scared to die so far away from our families. But we cannot abandon our jobs for the sake of our families. We are caught between a rock and a hard place,” he said.

Bagadzi said he was a competent driver with a licence which he obtained after he was granted asylum in 2008. He pleaded with officials to urgently address the issue before innocent people were killed.

“We understand locals are angry, but we cannot refuse job opportunities for the sake of our families. I came here to escape poverty and political war in Zimbabwe,” Bagadzi said.

An organiser of Zimbabwean truck driver in South Africa told the publication there are more than 400 Zimbabwean truck drivers in South Africa.-IOL

State Media|A Zanu-PF youth member in Bulawayo, who allegedly used President Mnangagwa’s name to extort a woman of US$12 000 was yesterday arrested during a dawn raid at his place of residence in the Central Business District.

Blessed Mushando (27) was arrested, in a joint operation by members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) from Harare and Bulawayo.

Mushando, who was once arrested on similar charges in 2017, is accused of duping a woman of USD$12 000, after he allegedly told her that he was linked to President Mnangagwa and could liaise with his office to secure her mining interests. Mushando briefly appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Nomasiko Ndlovu facing charges of fraud and was remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail hearing.

According to court records Mushando, on 24 March this year reportedly drove a Zanu-PF branded vehicle to Shangani, where he met the complainant, Ms Priscilla Ncube at Tobo mining syndicate. It was stated that he misrepresented himself, telling Ms Ncube that she should pay
US$12 000 to President Mnangagwa for her to secure the mine.

It was then noted that on the same day Mushando extorted Ms Ncube of USD$2 000, after telling her that he had the capacity to assist her in securing the mine. He reportedly told her that the mine had been targeted by the President’s Office in turning around the economy, as it was rich in gold. Mushando was allegedly given the money by one Dumisani Ndlovu on behalf of Ms Ncube.

On 26 March Mushando reportedly contacted Ms Ncube, while he was in Harare telling her that she needed to pay the balance to conclude the deal. Ms Ncube is said to have paid the US$10 000 with the hope that the mine would indeed be secured.

Ms Ncube, sometime last week, after realising that she had been duped, as the mine had been taken by someone else, made a police report, which led to Mushando’s arrest yesterday.

It was reported that in 2017 Mushando and an accomplice Tichaona Chikwava allegedly approached Mr Robert Noel Peter Gugo, who was the operations manager at Tribal Logistics Company with a fake letter bearing a Zanu-PF logo and allegedly written by the party’s provincial treasurer, Simon Khabo, requesting for $1 000 to cover funeral expenses for a former chairperson in the party. The duo allegedly even produced a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death referring to the deceased as Mpofu.

Mr Gugo became suspicious and carried out investigations leading to him discovering that the request was not genuine. He alerted the police at Donnington who rushed to the scene and found the two receiving money.

Mushando was asked to present himself at Donnington Police Station since he was driving his own car but allegedly disappeared along the way. Follow-ups were made leading to his arrest.

State Media|THE Government says that it will this week release US$5 million for the refurbishment of a power generating unit at Hwange Power Station (HPS) as part of contingency measures to ease the current crippling power shortages.

Refurbishment of Unit 6 at HPS, which is expected to take up to two months, will unlock an additional 170 megawatts to augment supplies. Zesa is producing 1 270 MW against a winter peak demand of over 1 700 MW, leaving the country with a deficit of around 450MW. ZETDC acting managing director Engineer Ralph Katsande told our Harare Bureau that authorities are exploring both demand and supply side options to address the power shortages.

“The first way we are trying to address this problem is through our own internal generation. We are trying to increase capacity at Hwange, even though it’s an old thermal plant, and we are working on refurbishing Unit 6, which requires about US$5 million to repair the turbine, then we get an additional 170MW. That on its own will reduce load-shedding by the same amount.”

It is believed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) have since made an undertaking to release the funds “in the next few days”. Eng Katsande said there were plans to source 400MW from South Africa during off-peak periods as the country was also grappling with insufficient power supplies. It will also enable Zesa to ease pressure on Kariba, where the progressively dwindling water levels in the Zambezi River continues to affect output.

“Once we have paid (our debt), we expect that we can get extra imports during off-peak. And why do we want off-peak? Because we know also Eskom (South Africa) has been load-shedding, but the power we need is that from off-peak because we then can shut down Kariba and conserve water so that it can last us longer,” he said.

There is also a limited amount of power that the country can get from Mozambique’s Hydro Electrica de Cahora Bassa as the company is doing some overhaul at its plant. Overall, Government expects to come up with a definitive plan this week.

HCB has already offered power to Zimbabwe and Zambia in exchange for further reduced power generation at the Kariba Dam hydro plants. Cahora Bassa Dam is overflowing following the recent cyclone-induced floods, and authorities in Mozambique have asked Zimbabwe and Zambia — through the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) — to cut down generation and store more water in Kariba Dam, which is upstream of Cahorra Bassa on the Zambezi River.

Eng Katsande said: “We are also looking at tapping into the day-ahead market of the Southern African Power Pool where other trading utilities have an excess we can purchase from them.”

Zesa is also looking at demand-side interventions that include requesting large power users to cut down on usage during peak hours. The utility is working with winter cropping communities to ensure that they are not affected by load-shedding. Zimbabwe is facing power shortages owing to depressed power generation at Kariba, whose water levels have depleted as a result of drought in the 2018/2019 summer season.

State Media|A pastor from a Pentecostal Church in Bulawayo allegedly died of stress after he sold a family house and invested in stands and other business ventures that were promised by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries fronted by Prophet Walter Magaya, that are yet to come to fruition.

Pastor Ernest Mutasa, who was a pastor at Assemblies of God died in April after allegedly investing US$14 000 into the scheme in 2016.

His family, before and after the time of his death has reportedly been frantically trying to recover the investment. The late Pastor Mutasa’s daughter, Miss Bethel Mutasa (36) told state media that her father made the investment in 2016, when he sold their family home to buy three residential stands in Douglasdale under Magaya’s supposed multi-million dollar housing construction scheme.

Miss Mutasa said not only did her father invest in the housing scheme but also in mining, and farming programmes under Magaya’s Yadah Connect a subsidiary of his PHD Ministries.

“What is really painful is that they caused his death and don’t want to acknowledge it. He was stressed and all he wanted to do was to secure a house for the family. He thought this was a good investment but on the contrary it took his life.

He sold our family house with the hope of building three houses, which would in turn make returns to the money he invested in the programme,” she said with tears clouding her eyes.

Miss Mutasa said she had to leave her job in South Africa to pursue the case and had been to PHD offices in Bulawayo many times, where she was on numerous occasions told that the investment was being processed.

“Many a time I have been there and it is the same answer I get. We are tired as a family and we are stressed. We lost our breadwinner due to stress and now we are suffering too, all because of some church ministry that doesn’t want to own up to its mess.

My father may have been alive now if it wasn’t for this,” said Miss Mutasa.

She accused PHD ministries of misleading people to fund the church’s programmes.

“They come up with different excuses all the time. One time they say they are reimbursing us, the next they say the stands will be availed with us being the first beneficiaries. We are tired of these lies and just want our father’s investment back,” said Miss Mutasa.

She said at one time because of the pressure she had been mounting on the ministry, she was blocked off their WhatsApp platform.

“They had the audacity to block me yet they owe us. They clearly showed how unprofessional they are. Sometimes I am referred to Harare, yet the investment was made in Bulawayo. So many excuses they have and it is frustrating.

“My mother too is showing signs of weariness due to stress of my father’s death and the failed investment,” said Miss Mutasa.

She said they were failing to meet rentals as the money her father had saved in a projection towards the completion of building a new home had run out.

“We are failing to pay rentals now, yet my father had a great investment. Now we are forced to scrounge around, which is really disheartening,” she said.

“ . . . my father’s dying wish was for us to expose Magaya and his church. He wanted us to find a means to reach out to TB Joshua, whom he says is his spiritual father,” said Miss Mutasa.

Sunday News is in possession of audio recordings where the late Pastor Mutasa made his creed, with several other audio messages of him instructing his daughter on what to do concerning the issue. A woman who identified herself as Mrs Dube operating from the church’s Bulawayo office said she was aware of the issue and the church through its relevant organs was working towards reimbursing the Mutasa family the money back.

“I am aware of that issue and a refund is being processed as I speak. I cannot comment further on the issue and it would be prudent if you sought a comment from Harare,” she said.

An Overseer at the church who only identified himself as Clive said the church was not ready to comment on the matter

“You cannot run with that story. Get in touch with me on Monday and we can have a man to man talk,” he said.

In 2016, Prophet Magaya commissioned a site in Douglasdale, Bulawayo, where he promised to build 5 000 medium to low density houses as part of the multi-million housing project spearheaded by the church.

The project was part of an ambitious scheme which would have seen the church construct houses in the entire Sadc region. However, Sunday News has established that nothing much has been done at the construction site with reports that beneficiaries were also now disgruntled over the slow pace of the project.

MDC Masvingo provincial chairperson, James Gumbi and other senior members of his executive have this afternoon locked themselves in the party’s offices in fear of being attacked by rowdy youths that are violently protesting alleged attempts to rig the selection of five members who will be deployed to the party’s national executive.

Many youths and other agitated party members are besieging the party’s provincial headquarters at 32 Mukwa Street, Rhodene, singing songs that denounce the provincial leadership.

Serious violence broke out after the Masvingo Urban youth wing began to conduct an accreditation exercise that others declared illegal.

Rivals said only the party’s vice president Lynette Karenyi-Kore, who by the time of writing had not yet arrived to preside over the elections, had the right to run the accreditation exercise.

The contested accreditation exercise disenfranchised some districts including Chivi North and Chiredzi West, in what many claimed was an attempt by Gumbi to victimise district structures perceived to be loyal to his rival Tongai Matutu.

One youth had his foot stuck under the heavy gate as people stampeded in the violence, and he pitifully wailed in pain.

Other people engaged in fist fights and scaled the security wall to force their way into the accreditation venue.

at Sunday, June 09, 2019

-TellZim

By A Correspondent| Police details in Victoria Falls have camped at the police station lamenting unaffordable rent which is being pegged in United State dollars by local landlords.

A source at the station alleged that the police officers, their families and belongings are camped at Victoria Falls police station where tents have been pitched to accommodate them.

“Rent is at least US$40 per room and our salaries, when converted is not sustainable,” said an affected police officer.

Efforts to get a comment from police spokesperson were futile by the time of writing.

Caps United fans camped at the team’s exit point at the National Sports Stadium yesterday calling for the resignation of coach Lloyd Chitembwe after their team suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat at the hands of Herentals.

The Green Machine’ title hopes were rocked back in their heels, courtesy of three well-executed goals from Kelvin Dingalo, Juan Mutudza and Tafadzwa Chitukutuku, in a game CAPS United were comprehensively outplayed.

Even Chitembwe admitted that his team was not in it at all: “We were not in the game. We did not play as we wanted. I am disappointed with both the defeat and our overall performance,” he said.

The loss, coming hard on the heels of last week’s 3-1 hammering at the hands of Chicken Inn, provoked a whole gamut of emotions from the Makepekepe faithful,

some of whom decided to vent their anger on Chitembwe.

The result also saw CAPS United fail to capitalise on the loss by leaders, Chicken Inn, who were beaten 2-1 at home by Harare City.

This leaves the GameCocks still at the top on goal difference with 22 points, the same as CAPS United, while FC Platinum, who drew 0-0 with Ngezi Platinum Stars, remain third.

Yet all could have been different for the Green Machine, who had the better of exchanges in the first half and were powered by the enterprising Phineas Bamusi.

The diminutive winger was a ball of fire, igniting attacks whenever in possession, and capped an all-round brilliant show by creating the game’s opener and CAPS United’s only goal from John Zhuwao.

With Bamusi a thorn in the flesh for The Students’ defence, the Green Machine created too many chances, but failed to utilise them, something they were going to regret.

That, however, was as far as they could go as Herentals took over the show after a half-time pep talk from coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva.More in Home

Their breakthrough came before the fans had taken their seats from the break, and what a gem of a goal it was. Blessing Maunganidze got possession on the left

flank; beat his marker, before making a spirited run towards goal. He then spotted an unmarked Dingalo, and set him up for a cool finish past Prosper Chigumba, in goal for Makepekepe.

Chigumba then worsened the CAPS situation when he was sent off by referee Josiah Masimani for deliberately handling a goal-bound effort when off his area.

From the resultant dead-ball situation, Herentals took the lead when Mutudza curled a beauty of a free kick past Tonderai Mateyaunga, who had come in for

Blessing Sarupinda to cover up for Chigumba.

With three points seemingly in the bag, it was now left to Chitukutuku to finish off the Green Machine and condemn the title contenders to their second successive 3-1 defeat.

Mutiwekuziva had high praise for his charges: “We are not done yet. This is the second big team we have beaten. If the boys stay focused, more will fall,” he said.

For CAPS United, however, it is back to the drawing board to find out what has really hit them over the past two weeks, and find means to bounce back to winning ways.

At Nyamhunga, ZPC Kariba and Chapungu played a goalless draw.

-The Standard

The Zimbabwe Nurses Association is in support of the position taken by the Health Apex following today’s bipartite meeting (06/06/19) held in Harare.

Prices of basic commodities, transport, accommodation and general cost of living continue to go up further making it difficult for nurses to afford a decent lifestyle. Goods are priced either in US Dollars or equivalent of the parallel market rate.

The employer is, however, failing to be sensitive to the plight of its employees by continuing to pay our members paltry RTGS salaries, whose original value was long eroded last October.

We, therefore, support the Health Apex’s position to maintain the 14-day ultimatum should the employer fail to respond to our plea.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s push for foreign investment is not attracting serious attention because of corruption and the failure to deal decisively with the vice, the ruling Zanu PF has admitted.

Mnangagwa, who took over from Mugabe in November 2017, has prioritised the fight against graft and investment promotion in an effort to reverse years of economic decline under the watch of his predecessor Robert Mugabe.

The admission by Zanu PF that the fight against corruption was not yielding the desired results comes amid indications of widening fissures in the ruling party

over the direction the economy is taking.

Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the lack of convictions despite a number of arrests for corruption cases was worrying.

“It is time we start seeing people going to jail for corruption. This will ensure investors take us seriously as a country,” he said in an interview.

“The number of those arrested suggests that we are doing well, but the convictions are really worrying. It seems as if the system is corrupt and we must deal

with that.”

At least 50 people, including Mugabe loyalists such as former Local government minister Ignatius Chombo, have been arrested on corruption-related charges since Mnangagwa took over, but only a few have been convicted.

Those convicted include former Energy minister Samuel Undenge, ex-Zanu PF MP for Highfield Psychology Maziwisa and former broadcaster Oscar Pambuka.

Khaya Moyo said once the courts start to send people to jail, it would be easy to attract investment.

“We must be like the Chinese, they are very cruel with corruption and it has helped them grow their economy,” he said.More in Home

“We have been wailing for too long and we must start to deal with issues and not focus on tissues.”

Khaya Moyo appealed to the opposition to help attract investment.

“Our economy must be attractive, it must have that aroma to attract people and not smell like a rotten fish,” he said.

“The issue of the economy should not be viewed as a Zanu PF issue, it affects everyone and all of us must work for it.”

He accused MDC vice-president Tendai Biti of demonising the country after the former Finance minister criticised the government’s performance during a

presentation in London last week.

“We must sing from the same hymn book, not this thing of having people like Biti going to Chatham House and propagate issues of legitimacy and so on,” he said.

“No, we must learn to talk here as Zimbabweans.”

However, MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume defended Biti saying Zanu PF must deal with the economic crisis “they created and stop blaming others”.

“VP Biti is just telling the world the state of affairs in Zimbabwe. As the MDC, we are a party that believes in globalisation and we interact with every

capital,” he said.

“It is not our fault that Zanu PF cannot relate with other states peacefully. They must revisit their behaviour.”

Zimbabwe’s economic environment has worsened over the last few months after the government introduced a new currency and stopped subsidising fuel.

-The Standard

MISA Malawi is calling for an immediate reversal of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority(MACRA) decision to suspend phone-in programmes.

In its public announcement titled ‘The conduct of broadcasters on coverage of post elections events’ dated June 7,2019, MACRA says it has suspended all phone-in programmes with immediate effect until further notice.

MISA Malawi finds MACRA’s decision unwarranted and a very serious violation of media freedom and freedom of expression, which the supreme law of the country, the Malawi Constitution, fully recognises.

In its announcement, MACRA alleges that there are ‘some broadcasters’ who are indulging themselves in careless and unethical coverage of post-election events. 

It is surprising and worrying that the regulator has decided to unlawfully punish all broadcasters, their listeners and the general public with an unjustified suspension of all phone-in programmes.

Thus MISA Malawi calls on MACRA to immediately reverse its suspension of phone-in programmes. As has been the case, we expect MACRA to discipline the few who may have breached their broadcasting licences. We however expect that that process will follow all the due procedures where, among others, the media houses are also given the right to be heard.

MACRA should not use its regulatory mandate to stifle Malawians’ right to know and freedom of expression.

MISA would also like to call upon all broadcasters to remain professional and ethical in their duties and respect the demands of their broadcasting licences.

By Talent Gondo- Opposition MDC officials have been told to stop questioning the legitimacy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The state media reported that the Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe urged the opposition to stop going to the United States of America and the United Kingdom to seek redress of the political impasse in the country but to sit down to negotiate with President Mnangagwa.

In an interview with the state media, India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rungsung Masakui said:

This is not in the spirit of democracy. You can criticise the policies of a government — that’s a political right — but if you keep questioning the legitimacy, that is unthinkable. Political rivalry is not enmity.

The President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) is making efforts to create dialogue platforms with the opposition parties; it’s a way forward. But it is difficult for the dialogue to succeed if the main opposition party is not part of it.

Space is there for them to join in – the President even formally recognised the office of the opposition party leader . . . that is what is happening the world over.

Political parties all over the world have differences, but when it comes to fundamental issues of nation-building, they come together.

The ruling party here is making all efforts to move forward, but the opposition party does not want to negotiate — they are going out to the UK and the US and negotiating with them.

I don’t know how that is a way forward. I don’t know how other people can come here and solve your problems.

Jane Mlambo| Sitabile Dewa, one of the seven civil society activists arrested upon arrival from Maldives where they had gone to attend a workshop on non-violent action yesterday missed her graduation ceremony at Africa University in Mutare as she had not been released from custody despite the High Court granting her bail on Friday afternoon.

Dewa together with Nyasha Frank Mpalo, George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara and three others were arrested and accused of subverting a constitutionally elected government, a charge they have flatly denied.

She was supposed to graduate with a Masters Degree at the Africa University in Mutare.

Below is Dewa’s marked chair whose occupant was in detention at the time the ceremony was underway in the eastern highlands.

By Dorrothy Moyo| Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has claimed that the man who once occupied his shoes, Tendai Biti is devoid of learning.

Tendai Biti is credited with boosting the Zimbabwean economy from a mere 4 billion dollar base,leading to a booming 17 billion one.

He is also arguably the best barrister in Zimbabwe who’s prominence and skill is at the level of the late national hero, Herbert Chitepo.

But Prof Ncube who appeared irritated by comments by Biti last week, said Biti is devoid of learning.

Responding, Ncube said, “Biti’s choice of crude language not only reveals his analytical deficiencies but also demonstrates lack of sophistication and poise normally associated with a global platform such as Chatham House. He has much to learn. However, this may take a while.”

Biti was speaking about Mthuli Ncube’s ongoing work as Finance Minister in which he is promising to fix the economy.

Of this, Biti’s comments to ZimEye were, “Mthuli is a loud mouth that doesn’t have a connection with its brain and the economy has found him out. This is about realism, this is about intelligence and this is about honesty. These three things are lacking in Mtuli Ncube.”

By Own Correspondent- Zanu-PF Spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has said that the government needs to do more on corruption if it is to be taken seriously by international investors. Speaking in an interview with The Standard, Khaya Moyo said convictions of those accused of corruption and not just arrests are needed.

Said Khaya Moyo:

It is time we start seeing people going to jail for corruption. This will ensure investors take us seriously as a country. The number of those arrested suggests that we are doing well, but the convictions are really worrying. It seems as if the system is corrupt and we must deal with that.

We must be like the Chinese, they are very cruel with corruption and it has helped them grow their economy.

We have been wailing for too long and we must start to deal with the issues and not focus on tissues.

Our economy must be attractive, it must have that aroma to attract people and not smell like a rotten fish.

The issue of the economy should not be viewed as a Zanu-PF issue, it affects everyone and all of us must work for it.-Standard

Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe health workers union have announced that they will join the health apex council decision to embark on an industrial action to push for better working conditions.

The last time health workers went on strike, vice President Constantino Chiwenga announced that he had fired all of the nurses. Will the powerful vice President wield the axe and fire all the striking workers and plunge the already struggling health delivery system in total collapse?

Below is the health workers full text

The Zimbabwe Health Workers Union (ZIHWU) is saddened by the prevailing economic situation which has reduced its membership to become the working poor.

Salaries have lost value, leaving workers in abject poverty. As a union, we are deeply concerned by the employer’s insincerity on the plight of workers besides several calls by the Health Apex Council to have the conditions of Service of Health Workers.

As ZIHWU we are solidly behind the decision by the Health Apex Council to issue a notice of intention to embark on industrial action. As an affiliate of the Health Apex Council, we stand guided by the council on the way forward.

Be honest, Is President Mnangagwa taking Zimbabwe in the right direction?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 7, 2019

By Farai D Hove| Below were some reactions to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s announcement that a new currency will fix prices.

Speaking to Southlea Park residents in Harare after taking part in this month’s clean-up campaign at Candy Shopping Centre, Mnangagwa said no country can develop without it’s own currency.

“A currency is only printed by its owners and the only way to get it is through exports, diaspora remittances or foreign investments but as a country we should have our own currency and we have started that journey,” he said.

Mnangagwa added saying the absence of a local currency was also causing the surge in prices of basic commodities.

“This is happening because we do not have our own currency. The time will come soon when it will no longer be permissible to transact using the US dollar or the pound. You will be required to use our local currency. You will be informed about that currency and that will be the currency you will be using,” he said.

BELOW WERE SOME REACTIONS: 

…

By Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC has once defeated the ruling Zanu PF in the Kadoma ward 2 by-election.

WATCH LIVE: Deputy Mayor Brutally Attacked At Rimuka Polling Station https://t.co/VQFPx23skC via @InfoMinZW @UKinZimbabwe @euinzim @ZLHRLawyers @nelsonchamisa pic.twitter.com/ANA1zFbHiI

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 8, 2019

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

MDC garnered 780 to Zanu PF’s 361.

More to follow…

Just in

Kadoma ward 2 by election results
MDC- 780
Zanu PF- 361@nelsonchamisa@Welshman_Ncube@BitiTendai

Defining a new course for Zimbabwe

— MDC (@MDCAllianceZW) June 8, 2019

Farai Dziva|Members of the Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Council of Churches (ZICC) have predicted the removal of what they described as “sanctions against Harare.”

The church leaders shared their prophesies and visions — that sanctions “are close to be lifted” — with Mnangagwa at State House.

They did not reveal the exact date.

Mnangagwa in turn consoled the apostolic church for the 11 members that perished in an accident near their shrine in April this year.

He also promised to open up lines of communication between his office and the ZICC, including attending their major church gatherings, according to a weekly publication.

By Marian Meyers- Rudo is a pilot here in Zimbabwe flying for Wilderness Air.

She was born in Harare where she lived with her five younger siblings and attended Arundel Girls School. Just after completing her O Levels she participated in an “inside programme” which exposes the students to various career choice opportunities.

At this point, Rudo wanted to be a criminal psychologist, but unfortunately they only had 20 places available on a programme that was heavily over-subscribed and so she missed out.

Her second choice was marine biology, but you cannot really practice that in Zimbabwe of course, so she went back to consult the list and decided to give aviation a try!

So for two weeks she and two other girls went to Pegasus Flying School where they did admin and filing. They were also exposed to the subject of Aviation Law briefly and were rewarded with a short flight in an aircraft that had to be moved from Prince Charles to Harare Airports.

A very short flight, but a great joyride for Rudo and the girls. This is the point when Rudo decided she was going to fly.

Rudo applied to a university in Australia to study a BA Aviation, and while she waited for the year’s intake calendar to commence, she started studying her Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL).

With only six hours left to qualify on her PPL she got the news that she had been accepted at the university. She made the decision to let the university wait and to finish her PPL which she did two weeks later.

Unfortunately, at this point her father passed away and Rudo took up a job in HR at Cresta Hotels which then funded her flying to get her commercial licence. She supplemented the funding required by instructing flying at the same time.

Rudo then joined Wilderness Air as a student pilot doing hour-building which worked towards her instrument rating qualification.

After flying freight as a co-pilot for a while, Rudo graduated to flying guests and then she got her final check and the go-ahead, and was awarded her Commercial Pilot’s Licence.

Wilderness Air Zimbabwe now has a total of eight pilots. Rudo is not the only female pilot as Natsai is currently a student pilot doing hour-building and will be joining the team as a commercial pilot as soon as she has reached the necessary milestones.

Currently Rudo is also studying for her degree in logistics and transport through UNISA. Incredible how life turns out – from wanting to be a criminal psychologist to becoming a commercial pilot flying guests into wild and remote places. Who knows what lies ahead?

By Own Correspondent- Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has reportedly pulled out of the Lupane bi election, fearing ZANU PF wants to use and dump him if he fails top secure the seat.

However, ZANU PF Secretary for Information, Simon Khaya Moyo told ZimEye that he did not even know that the party would be fielding Ncube in the forthcoming by election.

As Mthuli Ncube’s phones were bouncing into voicemail, ZANU Pf Secretary Of Information Simon Khaya Moyo told ZimEye:

“……aah, I have no idea at all. I didn’t even know it was going to be him. Why don’t you speak him?”

He was also asked to confirm if ZANU PF has a backup plan in the event of appearing without a candidate, to which Hon Moyo said, ”

“No no no, I do not speculate. I don’t want to speculate,” said Khaya Moyo.

Credible sources in Mat North claimed Ncube has declined to stand in Lupane. He considered it a plot to discredit and destroy him should he lose in the by-election.

ZANU PF could be slaughtered in Lupane as opposition players scheme on how to slay EDs candidate in Lupane. Mthuli they recon could be defeated easily as he single handedly is responsible for the economic mess due to his 2% punitive tax and corruption. He is said to be still staying in an upmarket hotel in Harare and will be driving to Lupane to seek supporter from villagers he has drove into penury.

It is expected that various political parties are considering ganging up and land a shock defeat to ZANU PF signaling to the ruling party MPs what lies ahead of them in 2023. This could mark the beginning of the end of the dominance by ZANU PF and total rejection of the Gukurahundist type of politics, an analyst said.

The current leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, has changed a line in the Lord’s Prayer, also known as “Our Father.”

The Pope has changed the words “lead us not into temptation” to “do not abandon us to temptation…”

The change so far only applies to the Italian translation of the ‘Our Father” which was given final approval by Italy’s bishops of the church, in consultation with the Holy See.

Some background to the change as reported in The Economist:

In 2017, Pope Francis told an Italian TV channel that he was unhappy with the standard translations of one particular line in the prayer which Christ proposed. That line is “lead us not into temptation” or in Italian “non indurci in tentazione”.

He explained: “It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation… I am the one who falls. It is not Him pushing me into temptation to then see how far I have fallen. A father doesn’t do that, a father helps you to get up immediately. It is Satan who leads us into temptation, that’s his department.”

In the wake of that papal bomb-shell, it was left up to national bishops’ conferences, responsible for translation into their respective languages, to decide how to respond.

The latest development, prompting the recent headlines, is that Italy’s bishops, in consultation with the Holy See, have given final approval to an Italian version which reflects the pontiff’s thinking and will be used in a forthcoming Missal or prayer-book. The new rendering is “non abbandonarci alla tentazione…” meaning something like “do not abandon us to temptation…”

By Own Correspondent- Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has revealed that the state will find modern methods that match the enemy’s and protect government.

She accused opposition political parties backed by their “foreign hand” in attempting to unseat a constitutionally elected government through protests.

Muchinguri Kashiri applauded ‘peace-loving’ Zimbabweans for ignoring the recent demonstration calls by some civil society groups.

She was speaking at a graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course (JSC) number 71 at Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) at Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare recently.

She said:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Zimbabwe for remaining peaceful and ignoring recent frantic efforts by our detractors to foment mayhem and unnecessary loss of life and damage to property.

It is apparent that these violent demonstrations, advocated by some opposition political parties and civic organisations that are backed by foreign forces to unconstitutionally unseat a democratically-elected Government and subvert our country’s electoral process.

She claimed that ‘enemy’ was using modern methods of destabilising the state hence the need to find matching solutions.

The minister added:

In our country we have seen the use of violent demonstrations against the Government purportedly over the poor performance of the economy or to display disapproval of the national electoral process.

By Talent Gondo- HOME Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Cain Mathema has said there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption and even Cabinet Ministers found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested.

The Minister said Government is intolerant of corruption and will arrest anyone involved in destroying the country’s economy.

Minister Mathema said this in Bulawayo yesterday after taking part in the provincial clean-up exercise in areas around Ross Camp and at Ross Camp Police Station.

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister, Judith Ncube, the Officer Commanding Bulawayo Commissioner Bernard Dumbura, members of the Joint Operations Command (JOC), police officers and officials’ from the Environmental Management Agency, the Bulawayo City Council and the private sector took part in the exercise.

Minister Mathema said even Ministers or chief executives of private companies found to be corrupt will be arrested.

“If you look at the papers, a lot of people are being arrested on corruption charges every week. This is done by police and other systems, the Anti-Corruption Commission; people are appearing in courts. We are doing all we can to fight corruption as the New Dispensation. Nobody should earn what they didn’t work for. I’m a Minister  and as Minister it’s easy for me to use my position in order to access what I’m not supposed to have. Whether I’m a Minister or chief executive, if I’m found to be corrupt the law has to take its course. Corruption is not only in Government but it is right across the spectrum even in the private sector,” said Minister Mathema.

He said no one will be spared in the fight against corruption.

“As you push your broom (clean up) it should also click in your mind that this is how we want to clean corruption. We need to remove corruption because corruption makes our country dirty and makes other people fail to achieve what they want to achieve. So let us all be clean and smart and all our streets must be clean,” said Minister Mathema. 

He said as scores of people and organisations take to the streets on the first Friday of every month to embark on the national clean-up exercise, the same attitude should be employed in fighting corruption. 

Meanwhile, in Matabeleland South, Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni took part in the clean-up campaign at Esigodini Central Business District.

Umzingwane Member of Parliament Levi Mayihlome, civil servants, council officials among others took part in the exercise.

Dr Nyoni challenged communities not to take for granted the clean-up campaign exercise which has become prominent on the nation’s calendar.

She assured the public that Government was alive to problems they are facing as result of unjustified price hikes.

Dr Nyoni said Government was setting up silo shops which would be providing cheaper products to cushion the public from unscrupulous business practices.

She also visited several community projects where she challenged members to be proactive and ensure that they succeed as Government is willing to support their initiatives.-StateMedia

By Talent Gondo- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has claimed that a trade unionist who was abducted and brutally tortured on Wednesday night, staged the whole incident and tortured himself “to put Zimbabwe in very bad light” during political dialogue with the European Union.

The president of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Association of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) Obert Masaraure was abducted from his Harare home by a group of suspected state security agents, taken to a secluded place, then stripped naked and beaten.

The incident came hours after the European Union (EU) held talks with the Zimbabwe government, the first in a series of meetings aimed at ending years of strained relations over Harare’s alleged rights abuses.  

In an interview with the state media, Information and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary Nick Mangwana said the wounds that Masaraure had were self-inflicted .

Picture: Auxillia Mnangagwa Playing Nhodo, Is This a Sign Of Humility? https://t.co/aFIiyAdczu via @ZimEye

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 8, 2019

By Talent Gondo| The Agrippa Mutambara led Zimbabwe People First (Zim PF) which recently pulled out of the MDC Alliance has said that dialogue will continue with Nelson Chamisa’s MDC because the country has to go forward.

A senior party official said they now recognise President Mnangagwa as the legitimated leader of the country.

This is a departure from the position of the MDC which maintains that Mnangagwa did not legitimately win the July 2018 presidential election.

Senior party member Vongai Muti, made the statement during a recent show when she was asked if the MDC was right to put the question of Mnangagwa’s legitimacy as a precondition for involvement in the ongoing political leader’s dialogue.

Said Muti:

I think the dialogue can continue and will continue without the MDC. Because this defense that they have that they are putting a front that because they are questioning the legitimacy of the presidency – I think that issue has already been dealt with and it is retrogressive.

We want to move with people who want to move forward. If you want to stay where you are because you think you have numbers, listen, people are suffering out there, people are suffering at the grassroots as she (Linda Masarira) was saying. We need solutions.

I will re-emphasise that we appreciate what the president has done to make our lives easier as women. To make lives easy for the ordinary Zimbabwean. Let us work together for the common good of the Zimbabwean.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Jane Mlambo| Opposition MDC has once defeated the ruling Zanu PF in the Kadoma ward 2 by-election.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

According to MDC Twitter post, MDC garnered 780 to Zanu PF’s 361.

More to follow…

Just in

Kadoma ward 2 by election results
MDC- 780
Zanu PF- 361@nelsonchamisa@Welshman_Ncube@BitiTendai

Defining a new course for Zimbabwe

— MDC (@MDCAllianceZW) June 8, 2019

Zanu PF moles including the popular Matigary, Kudzai Mutisi among others are in an overdrive mocking opposition supporters who have accusing the ruling party of rigging a Twitter poll which sought to gauge how people reacted to the way President Emmerson Mnangagwa is governing the country.

Posting on Twitter, Matigary and his crew accused the opposition of perennially raising rigging allegations even when they lose in a fair contest.

They lose ZEC vote; it's rigging! They lose own Twitter polls; it's rigging! One is minded to conclude their very births were rigged! ??. @matigary

— Humba Makombe (@GNyambabvu) June 8, 2019

?? @Mathuthu didn’t like the outcome of the Studio 7 poll. He commissioned his own poll, it showed him same outcome. He didn’t like that outcome so he had to do a rerun of his own poll. U can’t make that up ?????‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/Som2el2REv

— mmatigari (@matigary) June 8, 2019

Zanu PF Matabeleland North Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) has nominated Mbongeni Dube as their candidate for the forthcoming Lupane East constituency by-elections slated for the 3^rd of August.

Dube was nominated by the province amid revelations that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube was being pushed by the party head office to contest the seat. Mthuli Ncube though reported to have declined the offer was strongly being pushed for the seat.

The party has called for unity and teamwork towards retaining the seat which fell vacant following the death of Sithembile Gumbo.

The PCC meeting was held ahead of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) nomination court set for Friday the 14^th of June.

Matabeleland North Minister of State, Richard Moyo thanked the members of the party for being well organised and urged them to unite in ensuring that the party retains Lupane East seat.

“The meeting went on smoothly and we are proud of the province for demonstrating unity of purpose and we are confident that we will be able to retain the seat,” he said.

Following the proclamation of the bye-election date, ZEC is currently conducting voter education for pre-nomination court.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW

Own Correspondent|The ruling ZANU PF party on Saturday exhibited its old characteristic of violence on voters whenever it becomes imminent that they will be losing an election.

WATCH LIVE: Deputy Mayor Brutally Attacked At Rimuka Polling Station https://t.co/VQFPx23skC via @InfoMinZW @UKinZimbabwe @euinzim @ZLHRLawyers @nelsonchamisa pic.twitter.com/ANA1zFbHiI

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 8, 2019

The ruling party supporters in three cars armed with machetes brutally attacking suspected opposition MDC supporters who were thronging polling stations evidently to vote for the opposition party at the just ending Kadoma Ward 2 council by election.

ZimEye.com eyewitnesses interviewed in a live streaming of the violence incident indicated that at least two people were seen being brutally attacked by the gang using machetes shedding blood in the process.

The witnesses could not immediately disclose the condition of the two MDC supporters.

The seat fell vacant after MDC-Alliance councillor Michael Gore was jailed allegedly for inciting public violence during the January protests. 

VIDEO LOADItNG BELOW

Polling stations in the election have just closed as at the time of writing and results are expected by midnight Saturday.

Own Correspondent|‌Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa had a chance to interact with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Internal Trade Sibusiso Moyo at a function held by the British Embassy.

Writting on social media, Chamisa echoed the words made famous by Moyo when he announced the coup against former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, saying

“The situation has moved yet to another level..At a function with the British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Her Excellency Melanie Robinson and invited special guests.”

OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa, still basking in the glory of a fresh mandate given to him at the party congress last month, has rekindled his fight to effectively bar former vice-president Thokozani Khupe from using the party symbols, name and related regalia.

The MDC, in its resolutions at the just-ended congress held in Gweru, ratified the expulsion of Khupe, former spokesperson Obert Gutu and former organising secretary Abednigo Bhebhe, saying they formed their own political party and should, therefore, be stopped from masquerading as members of the Chamisa-led party.

“Congress noted that some former members of the MDC party, namely Thokozani Khupe, Obert Gutu and Abednigo Bhebhe, were expelled by the national council and subsequently left the party to form and found their new political home. Congress, therefore, confirms their expulsion by the national council and further resolves that they must, forthwith, cease or be stopped from using the party’s name, symbols, trademarks and intellectual property,” part of the resolutions read.

Spokesperson Jacob Mafume confirmed that their lawyers were putting in place measures to ensure that the legal case over party symbols and names between the MDC and Khupe was brought to finality.

“The case is already before the courts and after the congress resolutions, our lawyers are moving to ensure that the case is brought to finality so that our symbols and logo are not abused and used by people who are not part of the party,” he said.

Congress mandated Chamisa to clip Khupe’s wings by ensuring that she is barred from using the name MDC-T, slogans or party regalia.

“Congress resolved that the name of the party should not be used by anyone who is not a member of the MDC for any purpose without the authority of national council. In particular, no seceding, expelled or resigned person/s shall be allowed to use or continue to use the name of the Party or any derivative thereof,” part of the resolutions read.

Gutu dismissed the resolutions by the Chamisa-led party as “kindergarten gibberish”.More in Home

“They will not win this; they are allowed to day dream. They will not win this one, they are day dreaming, but they can try and, as usual, we will give them the Mike Tyson knock-out punch,” he said.

Khupe has maintained that she is the legitimate successor of the late MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai, adding Chamisa had used unorthodox means to wrest the party leadership from her.

-Newsday

Another own goal by the President. You dont make such pronouncements, just watch how the market will react. The markets are going to go crazy and this will further fuel inflation. @Wamagaisa pic.twitter.com/Nys5EUfGwY

— Tatenda_J (@TatendaJokonya) June 7, 2019

A 31-year-old Zimbabwe national facing a litany of charges including culpable homicide was denied bail when he appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Zimbabwe national facing a litany of charges including culpable homicide was denied bail when he appeared in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Friends and family of Kelvin Zirema, 31, packed the court gallery and followed proceedings attentively.

Port Elizabeth Magistrate Xolisa Dlolisa told Zirema: “If someone is in South Africa illegally, the court or state should not grant bail to such a person.”

The accused, a qualified helicopter pilot, faces additional charges which include driving under the influence, reckless and negligent driving, defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Immigration Act.

His court appearance stems from an accident that occurred on May 12. The state alleges that on that day Zirema was driving an Audi A4 that claimed the life of Anthony Agbo, 36.

The accident took place on Beach Road, Summerstrand. Another 26-year-old pedestrian from Zwide was also critically injured and she subsequently lost her left leg.

Zirema was ordered to remain in custody and the matter was postponed to July 26 for further investigation.